UAA adds former D-I football player to hoops roster

ANCHORAGE (June 27) – The Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team has landed a Div. I transfer of a different sort as head coach Rusty Osborne announced Friday that former Utah multi-sport prep star Travis Parrish has signed a scholarship agreement with the Seawolves.

Parrish, a 6-3, 220-pounder from Bountiful, Utah, spent his first two collegiate campaigns as a football player at Div. I Utah State, including a redshirt season 2012. Transitioning to the court, Parrish brings three years of eligibility and the ability to play multiple positions.

“He is a huge addition. Coming in as a sophomore, Travis will add not only talent, but class balance to our program,” said Osborne, who begins his 11th season at the Seawolf helm in 2014-15. “He is a strong, high-level athlete, having played linebacker at Utah State. In high school, he was not only all-state in basketball and football, but ran the 400 meters in under 50 seconds. He is big and strong enough to battle taller opponents, but also has the basketball skills and savvy to play in the backcourt, including some point guard. He is a winner, whose passion and competitiveness will be fun for our fans to watch and should help raise the competitiveness of his teammates.”

As a high senior at Bountiful High School in 2008-09, Parrish averaged 10.9 points per game and led the Braves to the Class 4A state semifinals for the second straight season. As a junior, he helped BHS within one basket of the state title. On the gridiron, he was the 2008 Region 5 Defensive MVP, registering 68 tackles, six sacks and five interceptions in 11 games.

Between high school and college, Parrish served a two-year Mormon Mission in Malaysia from 2009-11.

“Despite not playing competitively since his senior season, we expect Travis to make a smooth transition back to basketball,” Osborne noted. “He has worked hard the last six months to get ready for fall practice, and I am confident he will be ready to contribute at a high level in November. We look forward to coaching him the next three years.”

Parrish becomes the sixth newcomer to join UAA’s 2014 recruiting class, along with fellow transfers Derrick Fain (G, 6-4/175, Dallas, Texas/Forney HS/The Master’s Coll.) and Dom Hunter (G, 6-0/180, Tacoma, Wash./Decatur HS/Eastern Arizona Coll.) and incoming freshmen Sjur Berg (F, 6-7/225, Nesoddtangen, Norway), Damien Fulp (G, 6-1/160, Palmer/Colony HS) and Brian Pearson (F, 6-9/225, Elko, Nev.).

 

 

 

Nate Sagan
Media Relations Director
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr.
Anchorage, AK  99508
(907) 786-1295 / nate@uaa.alaska.edu
GoSeawolves.com

 

Master's transfer Fain joins Seawolves for final season

ANCHORAGE (June 24) – The Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team added more experience and another sharpshooter to its 2014-15 lineup as head coach Rusty Osborne announced Tuesday that Texas native Derrick Fain will transfer to UAA for his final season.

A 6-4, 175-pound guard, Fain played the last two seasons at NAIA program The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Cailf., where he helped his team to a combined 35-26 overall record. As a junior last year he averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game, shooting 38 percent from three-point range and 86 percent at the free-throw line. Among his top games in 2013-14, Fain poured in 23 points in a 71-70 win over NCAA Div. II playoff qualifier Cal Poly Pomona and 30 points in an exhibition victory over UAA.

“Derrick is a very significant addition to our lineup,” said Osborne, who will now have four seniors (Fain, Boomer Blossom, Brad Mears and Travis Thompson) on this year’s squad. “He fits perfectly both on and off the floor, and I am excited to coach him his senior year. He is an elite shooter and dynamic scorer with the ability to drive the ball also. Defensively, his size and length will help us match up much better against the bigger wings in our conference. He has been well coached by Coach (Chuck) Martin, and understands what we want to accomplish on both ends of the floor.”

As a sophomore in 2012-13, the Dallas native averaged 11.3 ppg in 18 starting assignments for the Mustangs, including a 26-point outing against Cal Poly Pomona.

“Derrick is very excited about joining the Seawolf family, and his experience playing at a high level will be very valuable, as he has proven himself against the best NAIA and Division II teams on the West Coast,” Osborne added. “The top of the GSAC conference (with NAIA national champion Vanguard) is very comparable to the GNAC, so we expect Derrick will be one of the better wings in our league. With Derrick, our returners, and other additions – including a few we have not announced – we are very comfortable with the quality depth we have established in our backcourt.

Fain played his freshman season at Kilgore (Texas) College, following a standout prep career at Forney High School. A two-year starter at Forney, he averaged 19.2 ppg and 5.9 rebounds per game as a senior, earning First Team All-District 10 honors.

Fain becomes the fifth newcomer to join UAA’s 2014 recruiting class, along with junior college transfer Dom Hunter (G, 6-0/180, Tacoma, Wash./Decatur HS/Eastern Arizona) and incoming freshmen Sjur Berg (F, 6-7/225, Nesoddtangen, Norway), Damien Fulp (G, 6-1/160, Palmer/Colony HS) and Brian Pearson (F, 6-9/225, Elko, Nev.).

 

 

 

Nate Sagan
Media Relations Director
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr.
Anchorage, AK  99508
(907) 786-1295 / nate@uaa.alaska.edu
GoSeawolves.com